Samuel aemsteong



(No Model.)

S. ARMSTRONG.

PISTON PACKING.

No. 245,762. Patented Aug 16, 1881.

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M H Samwlflrmtron} 7 I am I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL ARMSTRONG, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

PISTON-PACKING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 245,762, dated August 16, 1881.

Application filed May 7, 1881.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SAMUEL ARMSTRONG, a resident of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Piston- Paeking; and I do hereby declare the followin g to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyin g drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form apart of this specification.

This invention relates to that class of pistonrod packings adapted to be kept in stock in mercantile establishments as a regular article of trade.

The object is to reduce the cost and increase the durability and effectiveness of said packings.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements herein fully set forth, shown, and finally embodied in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate like parts in each of the several figures, Figure l is an exterior view of my packing arranged upon the rod; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section, and Fig. 3 a transverse section, of the packing, showing the internal arrangement of the parts.

In carrying out my invention I combine a number of metallic wires or rods, a, of varying diameters, and suited to the size ofpacking 1 wish to manufacture. Said wires are bound into a cylindrical body by an inclosing-band of wire or fabric, b, which fabric may be woven or may be otherwise fastenedaround said wires. Therods or strands are made from any single metal or combination of metals of a soft, inelas'tic nature, such as lead, zinc, tin, and the like; but I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto, as under some circumstances-such, for instance, as when applied to very heavy machinery--harder metals may be required, as will be manifest. Between said wires and inclosin g fabric may be secured a layer of fibrous material, 0, to give a compact rotundity to the packing. hen the wires are in course of being arranged together in the packing they may be lubricated with pulven ized plumbago or other lubricant to facilitate (No model.)

the action of the wires upon one another. Said plumbago may be used in sufficient quantities to fill all crevices bet-ween the wires. The said Wires lie in parallel strands in the packing P, as shown in Fig. 2, so that when bent around the piston-rod B in the stuffing-box D and cut, as shown in Fig. 1, they will form a series of parallel rings adapted to slide upon one another and expand or contract, so as to readily take up the wear and yet retain a perfeet steam-tight joint, as will be readily understood.

It will be evident upon reference to Fig. 2 that the wires collectively form a core which runs the entire length of the packing. The wires are all parallel with one another in said core, and, especially when properly lubricated, are susceptible to pressure, sliding on and between one another in such a manner as that when the follower or gland (when said packing is arranged upon the pistonrod in the manner shown and described) causes a. pressure to be exerted upon the sides of the rings of packing, said rings tend to compress laterally, but eonsequently and of necessity expand against thestuffing-box and contract around or bug the rod, as before intimated. Thus, by merely manipulating the follower from time to time as the packing wears away, the escape of steam is prevented.

It will be apparent that, should the wires intersect one another or be in any way interlaced, the action of the wires would be prevented and the packing rendered inoperative.

It will be seen that the wires, when bent around the rod and cut as shown, form free and independent rings, as far as their relation to one another is concerned. The packing may be cut into lengths ofthirty feet, more or less, and coiled for shelving in the stores, so that when requisitions are made by purchasers the same may be cut, as required, to fit the rod, or in such lengths or quantities as maybe desired. I thus produce a packing of great comparative durability, effectiveness, and general utility, which may be manufactured at a very small cost.

A point of considerable importance, which tends to illustrate its practical utility, is that, being generally composed of soft wire, with little, if any, spring thereto, it will remain in g the position it is placed in without the vexatious care required in the adjustment of other packings.

Another feature of useful improvement is that when it becomes necessary to remove the packin g the fibrous inclosin g material of which will soon have worn off, each individual ring can easily be taken from the box without the great loss of time and labor now required and the danger of injuring the rod with the chisel used in said process.

I do not wish to limit myself to the use of round wire, as shown in the drawings.

I am aware that wire has been used in packing in connection with fibrous material, the same'being woven, twisted, or otherwise entwined therewith in such a manner as not to be adapted to perform the results as herein claimed.

I am further aware that long delicate strips of wood, asbestus, and other similar fibrous materials have been placed longitudinally in various packings, and consequently I do not wish to claim this feature, broadly.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and wish to secure by Letters Patent,

1. A. packing composed of disconnected wires formed into rings and free to slide upon and between one another to take up wear, substantially as and for the purposes set forth and shown.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a packing having a core consisting of longitudinal wires lying parallel with each other, said packing being adapted to be bent around a pistonrod and cut as desired,'substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a packing having therein wires arranged parallel with one'another and capable of sliding upon and between one another when pressure is brought to bear upon said packing, and thus adapted to take up continuously the wear of said packing, as and for the purposes herein set forth and shown.

4. A packing having a core formed of wires so arranged therein as that when said packing is bent around the rod and cut into a ring or rings, as shown, each wire will form a free and independent ring, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth and shown.

5. The combination, in a packing, of wires adapted to slide upon one another and a binding material holding said wires in said combination, substantially as and for the purposes set forth and shown.

6. The combination, in a packing, of acore of parallel wires and an inclosing fabric, wrapped, woven, or otherwise arranged to keep said wires intact, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth and shown.

7. In combination, the wires a, binding 1), and intervening fabric 0, arranged and operating substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth and shown.

8. In piston-packing, independent metallic rings arranged collectively in such a manner as that one may slide between the others, substantially as and for the purposes set forth and shown.

9. A piston-packing having wires or rods so arranged therein as to slide upon and between one another, said rods being lubricated with plumbago and inclosed with a textile binding material, the whole being adapted to be bent around a rod and cut into rings, substantially as and for the purposes set forth and shown.

10. In a packing, metallic wire rings arranged parallel with one another and free to slide upon one another, substantially as and for the purposes set forth and shown.

11. A packing composed of parallel wires placed lengthwise therein, bound together with fibrous material, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 28th day of April, 1881.

SAMUEL ARMSTRONG.

Witnesses:

CHARLES H. PELL, OLIVER DRAKE. 

